The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is to Indianapolis as the Arch is to St. Louis.

It was erected in 1887-1901 of ashlar limestone and is dedicated to the 24,000 "Hoosiers" who gave their lives in the Civil War. It was designed by the German Architect, Bruno Schmitz There was an international design competition, and Schmitz won. He designed the monument as the city's focal point and as a gathering place. He succeeded!

Private funds were collected, but most of the cost was paid for with public funds.

This structure is about 284 feet high, but with the statue called Victory standing atop it, that measurement increases. I discovered that most "Hoosiers" call Victory "Miss Indiana"!

My brother Dustin (who lives in Indianapolis) tells me that The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is decorated with thousands and thousands of small Christmas Tree Lights each Christmas season, and it is thus transformed into one of the world's largest Christmas trees!"

Jill and I rode the small elevator to the to step 290 and walked to the glass-enclosed observation deck. (the 330 stair walk was closed) Too bad the windows as filthy dirty so it's difficult to enjoy the panoramic view of downtown Indianapolis and impossible to take a photo.

It was impossible for me to take a photograph that encompassed the entire monument; I would have needed much more sophisticated equipment.My two photos show details of the monument.